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Could we be looking at the shortest permanent managerial tenure at Ibrox in Glasgow Rangers’ 153-year history?

Not including caretakers, Pedro Caixinha is the shortest-serving Rangers manager of all-time, for now, overseeing 26 matches in 2017, but could Russell Martin smash that record?

Well, things have not gone very well for Martin in his 11 matches in charge of the Gers, ignominiously dumped out of Champions League qualifying by Club Brugge, demolished 9-1 on aggregate, while he is yet to win a Premiership fixture, drawing all four so far.

Martin’s 26th match would be a Europa League home game against Braga on 27 November, but many are forecasting he’ll be long gone by then, so could 49ers Enterprises turn to an experienced Premier League manager instead?

What is going wrong for Martin at Rangers?

Back on 23 February, Philippe Clement was sacked, following a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of St Mirren.

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Barry Ferguson took caretaker charge for the remainder of last season, actually producing some exceptional results, during which time 49ers Enterprises completed their takeover of the club.

Thus, after a thorough recruitment process, Martin was appointed 102 days on from Clement’s dismissal and, well, supporters were pretty underwhelmed.

Speaking on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Ewan Murray asserted that never before has a managerial appointment been so instantaneously “doomed” from day one as this, noting that Rangers fans never wanted Martin in the first place, and he has certainly not won them over.

The Gers have failed to win any of their first four league outings for the first time since 1983, going on to finish fourth back then, lucky to salvage draws at St Mirren and Motherwell, outplayed by both for long periods.

Also, the aforementioned 9-1 annihilation at the hands of Club Brugge is the Light Blues’ heaviest aggregate European defeat since a 12-4 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the European Cup semi-finals 65 years ago.

After the international break, Rangers welcome both Hearts and then Hibs to Ibrox, the latter a League Cup quarter-final, before commencing their Europa League campaign against Genk in Govan, but, should results continue to deteriorate and Martin’s position become untenable, who should the 49ers turn to?

Rangers' ideal Russell Martin replacement

When looking at the current out-of-work managers, some names immediately leap off the page.

José Mourinho, Erik ten Hag, Marco Rose, Sérgio Conceição, Steven Gerrard, even Ange Postecoglou (could you imagine?), but surely the most sensible appointment for Rangers, given their current predicament, would be Sean Dyche.

The 54-year-old was sacked by Everton in January, but undeniably did a good job on Merseyside, keeping the Toffees in the Premier League during a period of austerity at Goodison, with the Blues finishing 17th and then 15th with a very poor squad.

Dyche is most well known for his decade as Burnley boss before that, taking charge of 425 games, the third most of any manager in Clarets’ history, behind only Harry Potts (1958-70) and John Haworth (1910-24).

Under Dyche, Burnley twice won promotion from the EFL Championship, enjoying six successive seasons in the Premier League, their longest continuous period in the top division since the early-70s, most notably finishing seventh in 2018, thereby qualifying for Europe for the first time since 1966.

The Clarets were known for being defensively organised and tough to beat, with Dyche getting the best out of his players, elevating them to become better than they ever believed possible. He did so on a shoestring budget too, much like current Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers did with Swansea City.

Well, these are all qualities one cannot say about the current Rangers team, who are all over the place at the back, with Max Aarons and Nasser Djiga’s red cards against Brugge and Dundee respectively epitomising this chaotic approach.

Dyche’s Premier League record, when compared to Martin’s, tells the story.

Matches

332

16

Wins

93

1

Win %

28%

6.25%

Goals scored

323

11

Goals per game

0.97

0.69

Goals conceded

467

36

Conceded per game

1.41

2.25

Points

370

5

Points-per-game

1.11

0.31

As the table documents, Dyche is exponentially more experienced than Martin at Premier League level so, while the latter does only offer a small sample size, the way his Southampton team were going, they would’ve conceded 747 goals had he reached 332 matches; that’s 280 more than Dyche.

The main issue for Rangers right now is that, frankly, they have a poor squad, but even their competent players like John Souttar, who was excellent for Scotland in Denmark on Friday night, are not suited to Martin’s style of play.

Thus, what the Gers need right now is a pragmatist, not a dogmatic idealist who sticks to their principles at all costs.

So, if the Light Blues are going to fight for silverware domestically and make a deep run in the Europa League, they need a manager who can get the best out of players, and Dyche appears perfectly suited to that role.

Rangers must rue losing star who's worth millions more than Chermiti

Rangers must rue losing this “incredible” star who would now be their most valuable player.

ByDan Emery Sep 6, 2025

It was obvious that Jose Mourinho was finished at Fenerbahce the moment the full-time whistle blew in last month's Champions League qualifier at Benfica. However, it also felt like his time at the top was over, too, because Mourinho no longer seemed quite so special.

During this year in Turkey, he had continued to court controversy like no other figure in football, but he failed to win a trophy, which is why Fenerbahce decided that the outspoken Portuguese was more trouble than he was worth and, thus, dismissed him on August 29 – two days after the 1-0 loss in Lisbon.

And yet less than three weeks after his sacking, Mourinho was asked to return to the Estadio da Luz, with Benfica president Rui Costa having come to the rather surprising conclusion that the best man to replace Bruno Lage was the coach he'd just outwitted to reach the Champions League proper.

Consequently, Mourinho is not only back at Benfica, he's also back where he belongs – at least as far he's concerned.

"I was lucky in my career to coach a lot of giants: Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea. Benfica is also a giant and a giant club entails giant responsibilities, giant expectations – it's all giant," Mourinho told UEFA. "But it's the kind of challenge I need."

Whether it's the kind of challenge he can still overcome remains to be seen. Indeed, as the 62-year-old prepares to lead the Eagles out in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the scene of some of his most memorable triumphs, Mourinho is undeniably under pressure to prove that he can still cut it at the very highest level.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'What was done before doesn't count'

  Mourinho has always claimed that while his enemies in the game can "steal everything" from him, nobody can take away the "story" he has created – and he's got a point.

  The Portuguese is one of the most compelling characters in football history – and also one of its most successful. He really has seen and done it all, the only manager to have won all three current UEFA club competitions.

  For all the accusations of arrogance levelled against him, one can hardly blame him, then, for considering the room full of trophies, medals and mementos that he has in his home as a kind of "museum". After all, when it comes to retelling the story of modern football, Mourinho's name will feature frequently.

  However, he is absolutely adamant that he's not done yet, that there are still a few chapters to be written. "When you're still working," Mourinho says, "when you still have your ambitions, what was done before doesn't count."

  It's a sentiment that explains why he jumped at the opportunity to make an immediate return to club football with Benfica. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  An unquenchable fire

  Mourinho himself thought that when he finally returned to work in his native Portugal, it would be to take charge of the national team. Even from the outside, it looked like the logical step – and particularly at this stage of his life, and his club career.

  As a younger manager, Mourinho wasn't sure if he would always have the same fire burning inside him – but former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once assured him that, for men like them, it never goes out. And Mourinho has found that to be the case.

  After taking charge of his first Benfica match on September 20 – just under 25 years after his last – Mourinho realised that while the time had flown by, it had not changed his "nature", "passion", or "way of being".

  And there can be no arguments on that front.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  A 'f*cking disgrace'

  When Mourinho returned to Italy to take charge of Roma in 2021, 11 years after his treble triumph at Inter, he claimed that he was a changed man. He'd matured, he insisted, and no longer went looking for arguments.

  However, in his very first press conference as Roma coach, he immediately opened fire on a wide range of targets, including Didier Deschamps, Antonio Conte and even Luke Shaw. Then, just over a month into his first season in the Italian capital, he received the first of his seven red cards with the Giallorossi.

  During his two-and-a-half-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico, Mourinho showed that when it comes to firing up a fan base, he has few rivals, while he also led a success-starved club to back-to-back European finals.

  He won the first, too, against Feyenoord, but after losing the second, to Sevilla, he waited around in the carpark at the Puskas Arena to launch a foul-mouthed tirade at the blameless officials.

  The only "f*cking disgrace" in Budapest that night was Mourinho and it didn't really come as much of a surprise to see the Friedkin Family fire him after a rotten run of Roma form midway through the 2023-24 season.

  Basically, once Mourinho stops winning games, it becomes difficult to justify either his tedious tactics or touchline tantrums – as Fenerbahce quickly discovered to their considerable cost.

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• AFP
  

  A clever PR move from the president

  Fenerbahce took a major gamble on Mourinho reproducing his old magic in Istanbul but it backfired badly. According to , sacking Mourinho and his coaching just over a year after hiring them will set the Super Lig side back more than €10 million (£8.7m/$11.7m).

  So, why did Benfica feel that Mourinho was a risk worth taking?  Well, for starters, Mourinho's stock has fallen in recent years – meaning so, too, have his salary demands.

  Rui Costa revealed that Mourinho will earn €3m (£2.6m) in the first season at Benfica, and €4m (£3.5m) in the second. These are obviously not insignificant sums of money but they are quite small for a man that was once considered the best manager in world football.

  It's not just about money for Rui Costa either. Mourinho remains "a global brand", as he put it. "Jose's presence will spark interest and curiosity," the former Portugal international said. "Both Benfica and the league will benefit from his exposure."

  Certainly, from Rui Costa's perspective, you really can't put a price on this kind of publicity – and particularly just a few weeks before a presidential election…

New Napoli signing Sam Beukema heaped praise on team-mate Kevin De Bruyne as the defender claimed that he was left "surprised" by the Manchester City legend's humility. De Bruyne, who left City after 10 years this summer to join Napoli on a free transfer, has made a bright start to his life in Italy as he has already scored two goals in five appearances for his club, across all competitions.

• Beukema surprised by De Bruyne's humility

  Like De Bruyne, Beukema switched to Napoli during the summer transfer window from Bologna on a five-year deal. The Dutch centre-back is loving his life in Naples and has already made some close friends in Belgian duo Romelu Lukaku and De Bruyne. The 26-year-old spoke highly of the two senior players' character, while claiming he was surprised by their "humility".  

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  "They surprised me a bit"

  In an interview with , Beukema said: "They are two high-level players. They surprised me a bit, because they are very humble. We have joked many times together, and they’ve helped me settle into the group. Lukaku has been here for one year already. I’m so happy to be here with them and face them in training sessions. I can’t wait to continue with them." 

• De Bruyne backed to guide Napoli to back-to-back Serie A titles

  Former Italy international Paolo Di Canio has backed De Bruyne and Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund to shine for Napoli and help Antonio Conte's side win their second consecutive Serie A title in the 2025-26 campaign. Di Canio also praised the club for their impressive transfer activities during the summer.    

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  Busy schedule awaits Conte's side

  Conte's side are currently in action against AC Milan in the Serie A. They will next host Sporting CP in a Champions League clash on Wednesday, before taking on Genoa in the Serie A again on October 5.   

حصل نجم منتخب البرتغال وفريق النصر، كريستيانو رونالدو، على جائزة مرموقة من جانب الاتحاد البرتغالي لكرة القدم، مساء يوم الثلاثاء، حسبما نشرت صحيفة “ريكورد” الشهيرة.

وأقام الاتحاد البرتغالي لكرة القدم حفل توزيع جوائز، للمرة الأولى، حيث نال كريستيانو رونالدو جائزة تُسمى بـ”جلوب برستيج”.

ويتواجد رونالدو حاليًا مع منتخب البرتغال استعدادًا لخوض مباراتين في إطار تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم، 2026، وذلك ضد كل من أيرلندا والمجر.

وقال رونالدو في تصريحاته خلال تسلمه الجائزة المميزة: “مساء الخير، أمتلك بعض الجوائز في المنزل، لكن عليً أن أقول إن هذه الجائزة مميزة وجميلة”.

وأضاف: “حسنًا، ماذا عساي أن أقول؟ أعتقد أن كل شيء قد قيل بالفعل، عليً أن أعترف أنني أفكر فيما سأقوله في هذه الكلمة خلال فترة ما بعد الظهر، كنت أفكر فيما هي تلك الجائزة، كنت أتساءل إن كانت جائزة تُمنح في نهاية مسيرتي المهنية، شعرت ببعض التوتر وقلت لنفسي (لا يمكن أن تكون كذلك)”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. قائمة منتخب البرتغال لمباراتي أيرلندا والمجر في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

وواصل: “هذه الجائزة مصدر فخر كبير لي، لا أراها نهاية مسيرتي، بل استمرارًا لكل ما فعلته، أود أن أشكر كل من هنا، لقد مرت أجيال عديدة عبر المنتخب الوطني، أرى هنا العديد من اللاعبين السابقين الذين كانوا زملائي في الفريق، لقد لعبت مع المنتخب 22 عامًا، هذا يتحدث عن نفسه، شغفي بارتداء القميص والفوز بالألقاب واللعب للمنتخب الوطني، أقول دائمًا لو استطعت، لاخترت اللعب للمنتخب الوطني فقط، لن ألعب لأي ناد آخر لأنه قمة وذروة مسيرة لاعب كرة القدم، لهذا السبب ما زلت هنا”.

واسترسل: “أود أن أشكركم جميعًا، أشكر جميع زملائي في الفريق، على التعلم منهم جميعًا، وحتى من هذا الجيل الأصغر أيضًا، بالنسبة لي إنه لشرف لي أن أكون معكم، هدفنا هو الفوز في المباراتين القادمتين والتأهل لكأس العالم”.

واستكمل مازحًا: “أعلم أنكم قد سئمتم من رؤيتي هنا، في هذه الاحتفالات، لكنني أعتقد أنني ما زلت أساهم كثيرًا في المنتخب الوطني وفي كرة القدم، أريد الاستمرار في اللعب لبضع سنوات أخرى، ليس كثيرًا، يجب أن أكون صادقًا”.

واختتم: “علينا أن نركز فقط على الحاضر، مع وضع أنظارنا على المستقبل، سيكون حلمًا (التأهل لكأس العالم)، لكن خطوة بخطوة، تهانينا لجميع الفائزين، وللرياضة النسائية التي حققت الكثير، وللرئيس على الحفل، وللجميع هنا، وأعتقد أن هذا يكفي، تصبحون على خير جميعًا”.

After leaving David Moyes unimpressed during pre-season, Everton have now reportedly told one player to find a new club before the end of the transfer window.

Everton still seeking reinforcements

Even with Jack Grealish and Thierno Barry already signed and delivered, Everton are still in the market for attacking additions. The Friedkin Group will know how important it is to add goals to Moyes’ Everton side after they were outscored by every team outside the relegation zone in the Premier League last season.

Barry and Grealish represent a solid start, but it could be argued that the Toffees still need one more arrival. Just who that arrival is remains the big question, however. If recent rumours are anything to go by, then those at the Hill Dickinson are certainly still in the mood for reinforcements.

According to recent reports, Everton have submitted an opening offer worth around £37m to sign Artem Dovbyk from AS Roma, who are also owned by Friedkin.

Whether the American owners can help push the deal through remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that the Roma forward would hand Moyes a deadly strike partner for Barry this season.

League stats 24/25

Dovbyk

Barry

Minutes

2,418

2,559

Goals

12

16

Assists

2

4

Expected Goals

11.9

12.5

Two players who outperformed their expected goals and reached double figures, Everton would be adding 28 league goals to their side if they combined Barry and Dobyk this season.

Of course, however, any deal would need to advance in routine fashion to get over the line at this stage with around two weeks remaining until the transfer window slams shut.

Meanwhile, it’s not just incomings that Everton are focusing on. As one striker arrives, another has reportedly been told to find a new club.

Everton tell Beto to find a new club

According to Football Insider, Everton have now told Beto to find a new club with Moyes unhappy about his attitude during pre-season and seemingly at the end of his tether. The towering forward has only been at the club for a year and, to his credit, showed signs of finding his best form under Moyes before pre-season reportedly undid all of his good work.

In a ruthless decision by Friedkin and Moyes, Beto could go from the centre of praise to an Everton outcast if reports are anything to go by. And given the earlier interest of Leeds United this summer, the Yorkshire club could now be ones to watch as the door opens to sign the Portuguese striker.

Just how Beto and Moyes’ relationship has reached this point will be the big talking point if the forward does depart. It was only back in May that the Everton boss told reporters: “He’s a great boy, I’ve got to say.

Related £52m winger has now told club he wants to leave as Everton submit offer

A major boost for the Toffees in their pursuit.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Aug 14, 2025

“He practises like you wouldn’t believe to try and get better. Which, when you’ve got that, you know then that you’ve got something which is… at least he’s trying to get better. He’s incredibly humble. He’s very honest with himself, which gives a manager a great chance to try and improve. I have to say, he’s done great.”

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal says he dreams of following in Lionel Messi's footsteps by winning multiple Ballons d'Or.

Yamal among favourites for 2025 prizeHoping to win title many timesWinner to be announced this monthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Yamal is among the favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or award after a stellar year for club and country. The Barcelona teenager played a key role for Hansi Flick's Barca side as the Catalan giants won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup in 2024-25.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

If Yamal does win the Golden Ball in 2025, he will become the youngest player ever to pick up the prestigious prize. However, he faces stiff competition from PSG star Ousmane Dembele, who helped the French side secure their first ever Champions League trophy as part of a brilliant treble. Yamal has now spoken about the Ballon d'Or and is hoping that he can follow in the footsteps of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and be named the world's best player multiple times.

WHAT YAMAL SAID

He told Jose Ramon de la Morena‘s podcast : "I don’t dream of winning one Ballon d’Or, but I dream of winning many of them. I believe I am a player capable of achieving that, and if I don’t achieve it, it will be because I didn’t do things the right way, not because I didn’t want to. So, I dream of having many of them, and when the day comes that I get there, I will be very happy, but I will keep winning more and winning with my team and everything."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

The winner of the Ballon d'Or will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on September 22. Before then, Yamal will return to action with Barcelona after the international break against Valencia in La Liga on Sunday.

In the last couple of days, Arsenal finally landed the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi, after a pursuit for his signature felt like it was taking an eternity.

It was originally proposed that the Gunners had agreed a deal for the Spaniard back in January, joining up with the side during the current transfer window.

However, a deal went quiet, before it was eventually announced that the 26-year-old had completed his £60m move to the Emirates on a five-year contract.

The holding midfielder will certainly fill a massive void within the current squad, but ultimately, boss Mikel Arteta will be craving added reinforcements to bolster his Premier League title credentials.

Numerous players have been mentioned since the window opened, but multiple deals now appear to be edging ever closer to being completed ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new additions this window

Viktor Gyokeres is a player who has been constantly touted with a move to join Arsenal this summer, but a deal did appear to have stalled in recent days.

However, it now appears as though the two clubs are edging closer to agreeing a deal for the Swede, with the forward still desperately wanting a move to join the Gunners during the off-season.

He may not be the only player to arrive in the near future, with Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera all set to complete a move, according to journalist Henry Winter.

He claims that a deal for the 21-year-old looks likely to be signed off and all done by the end of the week, with a £15m price tag mooted for his signature.

Winter also states that the majority of the transfer is completed, with minor details needing to be finalised before the youngster can be announced as an Arsenal player.

Other reports suggest that the player already has an “agreement in principle” to sign for the club this summer. Any move could cost a reported £17m.

Why Arsenal’s latest target would be perfect for Zubimendi

Even after spending upwards of £100m to sign Declan Rice in the summer of 2023, the hierarchy have been targeting a new defensive midfielder for Arteta’s side.

The Englishman has operated in more of a number eight role at the Emirates, contributing to his impressive record in attacking areas that has seen him register 16 goals for the club.

If the side are to make the jump and become title winners in the near future, the signing of an anchor at the heart of the side has been vital – with Zubimendi’s arrival providing just that.

He could be further aided in his pursuit of being a success in North London by the addition of Mosquera, that’s despite the Spaniard being a defensive option.

Whilst his main priority is to stop the side from conceding goals, he will also have the responsibility of building up from the back and allowing those in front of him to- like Zubimendi – to thrive in forward areas.

His stats from the 2024/25 in LaLiga are evidence that he’s capable of thriving in possession, potentially handing Arteta the perfect ball-playing option at the back.

Mosquera, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by Statman Dave, registered a 91% pass accuracy rate, with 3.3 progressive passes per 90, highlighting why he’d be able to provide the midfielder with the tools he needs.

Cristhian Mosquera’s stats for Valencia in LaLiga (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	37
Goals & assists	1
Pass accuracy	91%
Progressive passes	3.3
Tackles won	1.5
Clearances made	3.5
% of tackles won	75%
Stats via FBref

However, without the ball, the youngster has also impressed, winning 1.5 tackles per 90, along with 3.5 clearances made – handing the side the added depth and quality needed to become title contenders.

His subsequent tally of 75% of tackles won last season ranked him within the top 15% of all players in Spain’s top-flight, with the Gunners potentially getting themselves a bargain.

If he can replicate his tremendous form in England next season, it would be a phenomenal pickup, having the potential to develop into a top-level talent in the years ahead.

The prospect of Mosquera linking up with his compatriot in North London is certainly an exciting one, with the pair potentially handing the club a huge chance of success in 2025/26.

Instant Norgaard upgrade: Arsenal make contact for "spectacular" £43m star

Following the signings of both Christian Nørgaard and Martín Zubimendi, Arsenal are now targeting a midfielder who is at a “spectacular level”.

By
Ben Gray

Jul 12, 2025

فاز منتخب مصر الثاني المقرر مشاركته في بطولة كأس العرب، على تونس، بثلاثة أهداف دون رد، في المباراة الودية التي أقيمت بينهما يوم الثلاثاء.

ولعب منتخب مصر ضد تونس، على ملعب هيئة استاد السويس، وديًا، في إطار الاستعدادات للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وسجل هدف منتخب مصر الأول، اللاعب يحيى زكريا الظهير الأيسر بتسديدة يسارية قوية من على حدود منطقة الجزاء، في الدقيقة السادسة.

وأضاف الهدف الثاني، اللاعب مصطفى سعد ميسي بتسديدة رائعة من داخل منطقة الجزاء عند الدقيقة 18، واختتم الثلاثية ميدو جابر في الدقيقة 66 بتصويبة قوية.

طالع.. فيديو | يحيى زكريا يسجل هدف مصر الأول أمام تونس أهداف مباراة مصر وتونس وديًا 3-0

وبذلك يختتم منتخب مصر الثاني بقيادة حلمي طولان، معسكره الحالي، الذي أقيم من الفترة من 1 حتى 9 من شهر سبتمبر الجاري.

وخاض منتخب مصر مباراة أولى مع تونس، وذلك يوم السبت الماضي، وفاز أيضًا بنتيجة هدف دون رد، سجله محمد مجدي أفشة.

يذكر أن بطولة كأس العرب، في قطر ستنطلق في الأول من شهر ديسمبر المقبل، وأسفرت القرعة عن تواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثالثة مع منتخبات الأردن والإمارات والفائز من (الكويت ضد موريتانيا).

The last few seasons have seen Chelsea completely overhaul their squad.

While there have been a few mistakes along the way, it would be fair to say the club look like they now have a team full of incredibly talented players.

Arguably, the most exhilarating of the lot has been Cole Palmer, who, since his arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, has been nothing short of world-class for the Blues.

So, fans should be tremendously excited about recent reports linking the West Londoners to another talent who has won comparisons to the game-changing Englishman.

Chelsea target Premier League signings

Chelsea have already made a few signings from outside England this summer, but, if reports are to be believed, the club are also looking at several stars from the Premier League, such as Joao Pedro and Murillo.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former could reportedly cost up to £60m, and while that is a significant amount of money, he was fairly effective in limited minutes this season, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists in 30 appearances, totalling 2,136 minutes.

Murillo, on the other hand, could cost the Blues up to £80m, but given his incredible performances at the back for Nottingham Forest this year, that once again may well be a fee worth paying.

However, as transformational as these two players could be for Maresca’s side, neither one can really be compared to Palmer, unlike Harvey Elliott.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of a number of teams interested in the Liverpool gem this summer.

Alongside the Blues, the report claims that Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, and Borussia Dortmund are all keen on the 22-year-old talent.

However, alongside the intense competition for his services, the West Londoners will have to pay a substantial sum of money to secure their man, with the report claiming that the Reds want at least £50m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Elliott’s ability and potential, it’s one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Palmer.

How Elliott compares to Palmer

In this instance, the primary comparison to Palmer originates from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and came to the conclusion that the Chelsea gem has been the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Elliott over the last 365 days.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.69

0.68

Goals per Shot

0.06

0.09

Goals per Shot on Target

0.25

0.25

Key Passes

2.44

2.45

Interceptions

0.24

0.31

Successful Take-On %

44.4%

45.1%

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.22

1.15

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked incredibly closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot and shot on target, interceptions, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

However, the similarities extend beyond the statistics, as the young Liverpool gem, like the Blues star, has demonstrated an ability to play in multiple positions, with attacking midfield and right-wing his most played.

Moreover, should this transfer go through, then it would be another example of the West Londoners bringing in a younger talent from one of their rivals who’s just not getting the game time he deserves at the moment.

On top of that, even though he’s had to play a bit-part role at Anfield this season, the 22-year-old “machine,” as dubbed by journalist Sam McGuire, has still got some seriously impressive underlying numbers, which suggests that were he given more regular game time, he could seriously explode.

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals, the top 2% for progressive passes and passes attempted, the top 8% for non-penalty expected goals, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, there would undoubtedly be some risk in signing Elliott this summer, but there was also plenty of risk in signing an unproven Palmer in 2023, and thanks to their similarities, this feels like a risk Chelsea should take.

Chelsea ready to offer six-year deal to £45m player, talks "now advancing"

The west Londoners could make their next signing soon.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 27, 2025

Brendan Rodgers made a bold decision in the January transfer window when he sanctioned a Celtic exit for centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Japan international completed a £10m move to Ligue 1 side Rennes midway through the season, and shortly after the Hoops had qualified for the play-off round of the Champions League.

Kyogo, who scored 34 goals in all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign, had scored 85 goals in 165 appearances for the Scottish giants before his move to France.

The Japan international had scored 12 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions during the 2024/25 season for Celtic as Rodgers’ first-choice centre-forward more often than not.

However, the Northern Irish head coach opted against a move to sign a direct replacement for him before the end of the January transfer window, instead opting for Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah, and Johnny Kenny as his three striker options.

Celtic could be in the market for a replacement for Kyogo in the summer, though, and Rodgers could be on the lookout for his next Odsonne Edouard.

How Celtic hit the jackpot with Odsonne Edouard

The Scottish giants initially signed the French marksman on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017, at the start of the current Celtic manager’s second season in charge.

Edouard enjoyed a fairly impressive debut campaign in Glasgow with a return of 11 goals and four assists in 29 appearances in all competitions, including nine goals in 22 outings in the Scottish Premiership.

His form for the Hoops in that season convinced the board to smash the club’s transfer record with a reported £9m swoop for his services in the summer of 2018 to bolster Rodgers’ options at the top end of the pitch.

The Premiership champions were willing to splash the cash to ensure that Edouard remained at Parkhead after his impressive debut campaign, and it turned out to be a terrific decision as they hit the jackpot with the French star.

Edouard scored 22 goals and provided eight assists in 52 appearances in his first season as a permanent Hoops number nine, and followed that up with a stunning return of 29 goals and 17 assists in 47 outings in the next campaign.

Celtic hit the jackpot with the former PSG star because they smashed their transfer record in the hope that he would progress and develop as a player, which is exactly what happened with his rising goal tallies each year.

As you can see in the graphic above, Edouard ended his Celtic career with two Golden Boots and four league titles in four seasons, before signing for Premier League side Crystal Palace in a transfer that could rise to £18.5m.

This shows that the Hoops hit the jackpot with the striker in more ways than one, as they landed a terrific player on the pitch and ended up making a significant profit on him, and they could repeat that masterclass with their interest in a new forward this summer.

Celtic considering club-record swoop for striker

According to the Daily Mail, Celtic are one of a number of teams eyeing up a move to sign Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that they are facing plenty of competition for the attacker’s signature, as West Ham United and Eintracht Frankfurt are also interested in a swoop for the Danish marksman.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It states that Celtic enquired about a deal for the 23-year-old star in January, as he is a long-term target for the club, and that they are now weighing up a move to sign him this summer.

The Daily Mail’s report adds that any teams wanting to sign Kvistgaarden this summer would need to shell out a fee in excess of £12m, which would break the £11m transfer record set by Arne Engels’ move from Augsburg last year.

It claims that Celtic would have ‘no issue’ with smashing their transfer record to sign the striker, which illustrates the kind of money that Rodgers will have to spend in the coming months.

Whilst the Hoops are now weighing up this club-record move for the Brondby star, is Kvistgaarden worth splashing the cash on ahead of next season?

Why Celtic should sign Mathias Kvistgaarden

The Premiership champions should smash their transfer record to sign the Danish attacker, as he could be Edouard 2.0 at Parkhead, a centre-forward worth breaking the bank for.

As aforementioned, Celtic hit gold with the French striker because they were willing to pay big money to bring the talented attacker to Parkhead on a permanent basis, and they got back the quality that they paid for.

That could also be the case with Kvistgaarden because he is coming off the back of an impressive season in Denmark with Brondby, which has attracted interest from teams in the Bundesliga and the Premier League, as well as Scotland.

The former Denmark U21 international ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 23 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances in all competitions, which shows that he provided a huge threat in the final third on a regular basis.

Appearances

29

FotMob rating

7.29

xG

13.99

Goals

17

Chances created

19

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, Kvistgaarden was particularly lethal in the Superliga with 17 goals from just 13.99 xG, which speaks to his efficiency in front of goal as he can outperform his expected return.

Meanwhile, no Celtic player managed more than 16 goals in the Premiership. Adam Idah (14.77) and Daizen Maeda (14.95) both had a higher xG than the Danish sensation, but only managed 13 and 16 goals respectively, which suggests that the £12m+ striker could come in as an upgrade on what Rodgers currently has at his disposal.

Denmark boss Brian Riemer recently described the attacker as a “tormentor for the opponents’ defences”, and that is backed up by his impressive form for Brondby this season with a constant stream of goals across all competitions.

He could be a tormentor in Scotland in the 2025/26 campaign as a lethal and consistent goalscorer for the Scottish giants, which is why he could be Edouard 2.0 as a club-record signing with the potential to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch for many seasons to come.

He's like Gareth Bale: Celtic eyeing "Rolls-Royce" who'd be Johnston 2.0

Celtic are eyeing a Gareth Bale-esque star who could be Alistair Johnston 2.0.

ByDan Emery May 28, 2025